Atmosphere analyzer working by variation of the combustion front

ABSTRACT

An atmosphere analyzer operates by variation of the combustion front. The analyzer includes a main or pilot burner having an inlet and a nozzle. A thermosensor is held centrally within the nozzle by a flame shaping member which forms a flame having the shape of a star with three or more points. The inner vertices of the star are situated near the thermosensor and the other vertices near the walls of the nozzle.

United States Patent Iriondo ATMOSPHERE ANALYZER WORKING BY VARIATION OF THE COMBUSTION FRONT Inventor: Joaquin M. Iriondo, Arda Basagoiti 40, Algona, Spain Filed: Feb. 5, 1970 Appl. No.: 8,804

Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 8, 1969 Spain ..363,466

US. Cl. ..73/25, 136/219, 431/76 Int. Cl. ..G01n 25/28 Field of Search ..431/80, 76, 75, 22, 349, 350;

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[451 Aug. 15, 1972 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,121,948 6/1938 Borland ..431/349 2,407,517 9/1946 Ray 136/219 2,710,055 6/1955 Betz ..43 l/80 2,818,246 12/1957 Kappel ..43 l/76 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 929,895 6/ l 963 Great Britain ..43 1/ 76 Primary ExaminerEdward B. Favors Attorney-Richards & Geier ABSTRACT An atmosphere analyzer operates by variation of the combustion front. The analyzer includes a main or pilot burner having an inlet and a nozzle. A thermosensor is held centrally within the nozzle by a flame shaping member which forms a flame having the shape of a star with three or more points. The inner vertices of the star are situated near the therrnosensor and the other vertices near the walls of the nozzle.

3 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUG 15 m2 INVENTOR JOAQUIN M. IRIONDO MJAMJJ, 5 an ATTORNEYS ATMOSPHERE ANALYZER WORKING BY VARIATION OF THE COMBUSTION FRONT All systems which are operated by the burning of hydrocarbons or any other fuel which needs oxygen from the air surrounding said system in order to burn, may not work well if the atmosphere is not renewed at an adequate rate.

This may happen in enclosed places where continuous air renewal is not allowed because the climatic conditions are quite adverse and comfortable indoor conditions must be maintained.

In order to prevent operating difficulties or accidents, such systems are equipped with atmosphere analyzers, which guarantee the maintenance of an oxygen richness which will never be harmful or even bothersome.

The invention described hereunder achieves optimum results while having an extremely simple construction and operating design.

This invention works by variation of the combustion front, since under normal circumstances, said front takes on a specific shape depending on the percentage in which each of the component elements are found in the atmosphere, for the burner nozzle has a characteristic contour, and as the oxygen richness decreases, the combustion front varies.

The analyzer described requires a burner with a preferably cylindrical flue, in which a thermosensor (i.e., an instrument which is concentrically sensitive to heat) is inserted. This thermosensor is fastened in place by a part which is used to pattern the shape of the flames combustion front and to position the thermosensor with respect to the burner flue, since it is a rotating device.

The flame-shaping part creates a combustion front in the form of a star with three or more points.

When the flame burns under normal conditions, the combustion front follows the contours of the starshaped part and is limited by the burner flue. Naturally, since the inner vertices of the star are near the thermosensor, the flame in this position activates it very rapidly.

This combustion-front shape will remain constant within certain predeterminable limits of oxygen richness, beyond which the front will begin to deform. This variation or deformation consists in that the inner points of the front begin to become rounded, and therefore move away from the thermosensor so that the heat activating it is less.

When the pre-set degree of deformation or variation is reached, the thermosensor is deactivated, causing blocking of the fuel duct, and setting off an alarm or other warning device.

To facilitate better understanding of the nature of the invention described, the attached diagrams show a schematic representation of how it is to be used. These diagrams are non-limiting.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the burner assembly showing the arrangement of the component parts.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the assembly.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are a side view and plan view, respectively, of a flame-shaping part made of extruded sheet, with its holes cut in such a way that the flame will be shaped just as if the shaping part numbered 5 was used.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the burner nozzle with dotand-dash lines showing the shape of the flame when the oxygen richness conditions are normal or within optimal limits.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of FIG. 5, in which the combustion front is also drawn with dot-and-dash lines.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the burner showing the combustion front in a transitional stage of its variation.

FIG. 8 is the corresponding plan view of this transitional state of the combustion front.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a side and a plan view, respectively, of the shape taken on by the combustion front when the atmosphere from which the primary air is drawn reaches a given level of rarification, and the thermosensor lies in the cold zone of the flame, wherefore it is deactivated, as the drawings clearly show.

The parts shown in the foregoing figures are numbered as follows:

1 injector 2 mixer 3 flue 4 thermosensor 5 star-shaped flame-shaping part 6 extruded flame-shaping part, with holes giving it a contour similar to that of shaping part 5.

7 combustion front under normal conditions 8 transitional combustion front 9 deformed combustion front As the fuel comes out of injector 1, it is mixed in mixer 2 with the primary air. This air-fuel mixture flows towards flue 3, and is burned on reaching the burner nozzle.

When oxygen richness is optimal or within acceptable limits, the combustion front at the inner points of the star heats up thermosensor 4 rapidly, and activates it in a few seconds.

As the oxygen content of the air-fuel mixture decreases, the latter loses the balanced composition it requires for perfect burning and the flame is left want ing oxygen; this makes the combustion front move outwards as FIGS. 7 and 8 show.

If the rarification of the atmosphere increases, the combustion front continues to move away from thermosensor 4, which therefore records less heat. It is thus activated to a lesser extent, and when a predetermined level of rarification is reached, the combustion front draws so far away from thermosensor 4 that it is no longer activated (as in FIGS. 9 and 10, for example); as a result, a shut-off valve closes, that is connected to an alarm or some other device that will warn the users of the system of the danger threatening them.

The foregoing being a sufficient description of the nature of the patented invention and of its industrial design, it need only be added that any changes whatsoever of form, material, and arrangement may be made in either its assembly or its component parts, provided such alterations do not affect its basic design principle.

I claim:

1. An atmosphere analyzer operating by the variation of the combustion front, said analyzer comprising a burner having an inlet and a round nozzle communicating with said inlet, and having an open top, a thermosensor located in the middle of said nozzle and having an end extending beyond said top, a flame-shaping part located within said nozzle adjacent said top and engaging said thermosensor and the inner walls of said nozzle adjacent said top, said flameshaping part having at least three flame-shaping passages extending radially star-like between said thermosensor and said inner walls, and means injecting a fuel into said inlet wherein it is mixed with air and ignited, whereby a flame is formed which extends star-shaped around said thermosensor and beyond said top with the inner vertices of the star-shaped flame being located adjacent said thermosensor and the outer vertices of the star-shaped flame being located adjacent said inner walls.

2. Atmosphere analyzer working by variation of the combustion front, as described in claim 1, characterized by the fact that, under normal atmosphere conditions, the combustion front forms along the contours of the flame-shaping pan, i.e., the flame burns near the thermosensor at the inner vertices of the star, and near the wall of the flue or burner nozzle in the outer area, where it can be piloted.

3. Atmosphere analyzer working by variation of the combustion front, as described in claim 2, characterized by the fact that, when oxygen richness varies in the atmosphere from which the primary combustion air is drawn, i.e., when the percentage of oxygen diminishes, the combustion front also varies, such that the points of the star become rounder, and the hot zone of the flame moves away from the thermosensor until it reaches a point far enough away to deactivate the latter when a predetermined degree of ratification is attained in the atmosphere. 

1. An atmosphere analyzer operating by the variation of the combustion front, said analyzer comprising a burner having an inlet and a round nozzle communicating with said inlet, and having an open top, a thermosensor located in the middle of said nozzle and having an end extending beyond said top, a flameshaping part located within said nozzle adjacent said top and engaging said thermosensor and the inner walls of said nozzle adjacent said top, said flame-shaping part having at least three flame-shaping passages extending radially star-like between said thermosensor and said inner walls, and means injecting a fuel into said inlet wherein it is mixed with air and ignited, whereby a flame is formed which extends star-shaped around said thermosensor and beyond said top with the inner vertices of the star-shaped flame being located adjacent said thermosensor and the outer vertices of the star-shaped flame being located adjacent said inner walls.
 2. Atmosphere analyzer working by variation of the combustion front, as described in claim 1, characterized by the fact that, under normal atmosphere conditions, the combustion front forms along the contours of the flame-shaping part, i.e., the flame burns near the thermosensor at the inner vertices of the star, and near the wall of the flue or burner nozzle in the outEr area, where it can be piloted.
 3. Atmosphere analyzer working by variation of the combustion front, as described in claim 2, characterized by the fact that, when oxygen richness varies in the atmosphere from which the primary combustion air is drawn, i.e., when the percentage of oxygen diminishes, the combustion front also varies, such that the points of the star become rounder, and the hot zone of the flame moves away from the thermosensor until it reaches a point far enough away to deactivate the latter when a predetermined degree of rarification is attained in the atmosphere. 